October 04, 2012, 3:11PM

October 04, 2012, 3:11PM

Carl Grimm practices green gardening in a variety of ways: The lawn is mowed infrequently, which reduces the need for watering; paths are made of permeable materials such as wood chips; and things such as bottles, clay pipes and old pots find new life in the garden.

January 17, 2013, 4:01PM

Clunky, outdated oak cabinets and white tile counters were updated with sleek, rift-sawn white oak cabinetry with hardware pulls the Holahs call for so often, the cabinetmaker has developed a "Holah design" template for his wood router.

January 17, 2013, 4:01PM

The sliding barn door to the left replaced a traditional double-door entry. Slowly, Lucy Roark says, she'd like to replace the fussier elements throughout the house to reflect her love of modern design.

January 17, 2013, 4:01PM

The corner fireplace unit created an awkward layout in the family room, which the Roarks rarely used. The Holahs moved the unit to the middle of the wall and clad the surround in the same white oak used throughout the kitchen.

January 24, 2013, 1:49PM

I learned a basic rule of design as I looked long and hard for the right size hall table for the narrow entryway: Always measure your space before you shop. Even more important, make a file for receipts in case you have to return something. Write the item you purchased on the receipt to make it easier to find later....

January 24, 2013, 1:49PM

My living room became a completely different place after a professional stager removed the overstuffed furniture, out-of-proportion coffee table, side tables and overabundance of accessories. Photo by Kathryn Madison

January 24, 2013, 1:49PM

January 24, 2013, 1:49PM

New construction made me think of cookie-cutter suburban homes, a lifestyle that never appealed to me. But after looking at an infill house built by Fish Construction NW in an old neighborhood, I realized a brand-new house was exactly what I wanted. It looks boxy now, but I've got big plans for softening up the lines with landscaping.